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Anderssen's Evans Gambit King Hunt

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Adolf Anderssen offers the b-pawn in the Evans Gambit, builds a broad centre and keeps finding moves that bring another piece into the attack.

On this page
  1. Critical decisions
  2. Replay with move-by-move board facts
  3. PGN
  4. Sources and checking
  5. Continue with another game
White
Adolf Anderssen
Black
Jean Dufresne
Event
Berlin m2
Year
1851
Result
1-0
Opening
C52 Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Dufresne Defense

Opening reference: Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Dufresne Defense (C52).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 41 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 13 captures and 4 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 36 legal choices. The final recorded move is 31.Nd4#, which is checkmate; the stored result is 1-0.

Critical decisions

The daily trainer uses a short set of positions from this complete score. Each link goes to the exact half-move rather than only the numbered move.

  1. 12.e6 — Move 12 — e6!, the breakthrough pawn12.e6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 14.Re1 — Moves 14-15 — development with threats14.Re1 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 20.Nc4 — Create pressure on d620.Nc4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 28.Qf7+ — Move 28 — Qf7+ and the knight mate28.Qf7+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.

Replay with move-by-move board facts

The board, fact panel and transcript use the same legal score. “Fixed engine check” means Stockfish 17.1, one thread, a fixed 25,000-node search and 3 candidate lines. It compares moves under one reproducible setting; it does not claim to reconstruct a player’s thoughts.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Adolf Anderssen vs Jean Dufresne, 1851

Start position

Use Previous and Next on the board, or select a move in the transcript. The board fact and fixed engine check remain visible until you choose another move.

Opening · 1.e4 to 10...Bf5

  1. 1.e4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e2 to e4; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6.

  2. 1...e5 Claim central space

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e5; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Nf3 Nc6 d4.

  3. 2.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 Nc6 d4 exd4.

  4. 2...Nc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 d4 exd4 Nxd4.

  5. 3.Bc4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to c4; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc4 Nf6 d3 d6.

  6. 3...Bc5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bc5 c3 Nf6 d4.

  7. 4.b4 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b2 to b4; from b4 it attacks Black's bishop on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; c3 ranked higher · b4.

    Move 4 — the Evans Gambit4.b4 sacrifices the b-pawn to gain time with c3 and d4 and build a big centre. This is romantic-era chess: lines and initiative over material.
  8. 4...Bxb4 Exchange on b4

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the pawn on b4; from b4 it attacks White's pawn on d2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxb4.

  9. 5.c3 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's bishop on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c3 Be7 d4 Na5.

  10. 5...Ba5 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from b4 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's pawn on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ba5 d4.

  11. 6.d4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 exd4 O-O dxc3.

  12. 6...exd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on c3; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd4 O-O Bb6 cxd4.

  13. 7.O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: White castles kingside, moving the king to g1 and the rook to f1. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · O-O Bb6 cxd4 d6.

  14. 7...d3 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d4 to d3; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · d3.

  15. 8.Ng5 Create pressure on f7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's pawn on f7 and Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qb3 ranked higher · Ng5 Nh6.

  16. 8...Nh6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to h6; from there it controls f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nh6 f4 d6 Na3.

  17. 9.e5 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e4 to e5; from there it controls d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; f4 ranked higher · e5 Nxe5.

  18. 9...d5 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d5; from d5 it attacks White's bishop on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Nxe5 ranked higher · d5 exd6 O-O Bxd3.

  19. 10.Bxd3 Exchange on d3

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on h7; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bxd3 Bg4.

  20. 10...Bf5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to f5; from f5 it attacks White's bishop on d3.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bg4 ranked higher · Bf5 Bxf5.

Middlegame · 11.Bxf5 to 31.Nd4#

  1. 11.Bxf5 Exchange on f5

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the bishop on f5; from f5 it attacks Black's pawn on h7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf5.

  2. 11...Nxf5 Recapture on f5

    Board fact: Black's knight recaptures the bishop on f5; from f5 it reinforces the pawn on g7; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf5 e6 fxe6 Nxe6.

  3. 12.e6 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e5 to e6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e6 it attacks Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e6 fxe6 Nxe6 Qf6.

    Move 12 — e6!, the breakthrough pawnAfter 12.e6 fxe6 13.Nxe6, Black's f-pawn has disappeared and the e-file is open while Black's king remains on e8.
  4. 12...fxe6 Exchange on e6

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on e6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e6 it reinforces the knight on f5; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxe6 Nxe6.

  5. 13.Nxe6 Recapture on e6

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the pawn on e6; from e6 it attacks Black's queen on d8 and Black's pawn on c7; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe6 Qf6 Re1 Kd7.

  6. 13...Qd6 Create pressure on e6

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to d6; from d6 it attacks White's knight on e6 and White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qf6 ranked higher · Qd6 Re1 Kf7 Ba3.

  7. 14.Re1 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re1 Kd7 Ba3 Qxe6.

    Moves 14-15 — development with threats14.Re1 occupies the open e-file and 15.Ba3 attacks the knight on e7. White's remaining pieces can enter through the centre while Black still has a king on e8 and a rook on h8.
  8. 14...Nce7 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to e7; from there it controls d5, c6 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Kd7 ranked higher · Nce7 Qa4+ Qc6 Qxa5.

  9. 15.Ba3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to a3; from a3 it attacks Black's queen on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qa4+ ranked higher · Ba3 Qd7 Qf3 Rg8.

  10. 15...Qd7 Create pressure on e6

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d6 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's knight on e6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd7 Qf3 h5 Nd2.

  11. 16.Nd2 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to d2; from there it controls e4, c4 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nd2 Kf7 Nc5 Qb5.

  12. 16...g6 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g7 to g6; from there it controls f5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bxc3 ranked higher · g6 Qf3 Qc6 g4.

  13. 17.Rc1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to c1; from there it controls c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc1 Bb6 Qf3 Kf7.

  14. 17...c6 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c6; from there it controls d5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · c6 g4 Nd6 Qf3.

  15. 18.g4 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g4; from g4 it attacks Black's knight on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g4 Nd6 Qf3 Rg8.

  16. 18...Nd6 Improve the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f5 to d6; from there it controls e4, c4 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd6 Qf3 h5 Re2.

  17. 19.Bxd6 Exchange on d6

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on d6; from d6 it attacks Black's knight on e7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd6 Qxd6 Nc4 Qd7.

  18. 19...Qxd6 Recapture on d6

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the bishop on d6; from d6 it attacks White's knight on e6 and White's pawn on h2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd6 Nc4 Qd7 Nxa5.

  19. 20.Nc4 Create pressure on d6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d2 to c4; from c4 it attacks Black's queen on d6 and Black's bishop on a5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc4 Qd7 Nxa5 b6.

  20. 20...Qd7 Create pressure on e6

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d6 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's knight on e6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd7 Nxa5 b6 Qd4.

  21. 21.Qd4 Create pressure on h8

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to d4; from d4 it attacks Black's rook on h8 and Black's pawn on a7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd4 Rg8 Nxa5 b6.

  22. 21...Rg8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from h8 to g8; from g8 it reinforces the pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rf8 ranked higher · Rg8 Nxa5 b6 Re3.

  23. 22.Nxa5 Exchange on a5

    Board fact: White's knight takes the bishop on a5; from a5 it attacks Black's pawn on b7 and Black's pawn on c6; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxa5 b6 Re3 c5.

  24. 22...b6 Create pressure on a5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b7 to b6; from b6 it attacks White's knight on a5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b6 h3 bxa5 c4.

  25. 23.Nb3 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from a5 to b3; from there it controls d4 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Re3 ranked higher · Nb3 Qd6 Re3 c5.

  26. 23...c5 Create pressure on d4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c6 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's queen on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qd6 ranked higher · c5 Nbxc5 bxc5 Nxc5.

  27. 24.Qf6 Create pressure on e7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d4 to f6; from f6 it attacks Black's knight on e7 and Black's pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nbxc5 ranked higher · Qf6 Rc8 Re5 Rc6.

  28. 24...Rc8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to c8; from there it controls c5 and c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc8 Re3 Rc6 Rce1.

  29. 25.Re3 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e1 to e3; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e4, e5 and c3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Re5 ranked higher · Re3 d4 cxd4 cxd4.

  30. 25...Rc6 Create pressure on e6

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c8 to c6; from c6 it attacks White's knight on e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc6 Rce1 d4 cxd4.

  31. 26.Rce1 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from c1 to e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rce1 Rd6 Qf4 g5.

  32. 26...h5 Create pressure on g4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h5; from h5 it attacks White's pawn on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h5 g5 a6 Nd2.

  33. 27.Rf3 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e3 to f3; from there it controls c3, d3 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf3 Qd6 Qf7+ Kd7.

  34. 27...Qc8 Create pressure on e6

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d7 to c8; from c8 it attacks White's knight on e6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qd6 ranked higher · Qc8 Qf7+ Kd7 Nexc5+.

  35. 28.Qf7+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f6 to f7; the move checks Black's king; from f7 it attacks Black's rook on g8 and Black's knight on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qf7+ Kd7 Nexc5+ Kc7.

    Move 28 — Qf7+ and the knight mate28.Qf7+ begins the king hunt; 29.Nexc5+ Rxc5 30.Qxe7+ Kc6 31.Nd4# delivers a clean knight checkmate in the open board.
  36. 28...Kd7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from e8 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's knight on e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kd7 Nexc5+ Kc7 Na6+.

  37. 29.Nexc5+ Capture with check on c5

    Board fact: White's knight takes the pawn on c5; the move checks Black's king; from c5 it reinforces the knight on b3; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nexc5+ Kc7 Rxe7+ Kb8.

  38. 29...Rxc5 Recapture on c5

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the knight on c5; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on c3; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Kc7 ranked higher · Rxc5 Qxe7+ Kc6 Nd4#.

  39. 30.Qxe7+ Capture with check on e7

    Board fact: White's queen takes the knight on e7; the move checks Black's king; from e7 it attacks Black's rook on c5; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe7+ Kc6 Nd4#.

  40. 30...Kc6 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from d7 to c6; from there it controls d5, c5 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kc6 Nd4#.

  41. 31.Nd4# Checkmate

    Board fact: White's knight moves from b3 to d4 and delivers checkmate; Black's king has no legal way to answer the attack.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd4#.

PGN

[Event "Berlin m2"] [Site "?"] [Date "1851.??.??"] [White "Anderssen, Adolf"] [Black "Dufresne, Jean"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d3 8. Ng5 Nh6 9. e5 d5 10. Bxd3 Bf5 11. Bxf5 Nxf5 12. e6 fxe6 13. Nxe6 Qd6 14. Re1 Nce7 15. Ba3 Qd7 16. Nd2 g6 17. Rc1 c6 18. g4 Nd6 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 20. Nc4 Qd7 21. Qd4 Rg8 22. Nxa5 b6 23. Nb3 c5 24. Qf6 Rc8 25. Re3 Rc6 26. Rce1 h5 27. Rf3 Qc8 28. Qf7+ Kd7 29. Nexc5+ Rxc5 30. Qxe7+ Kc6 31. Nd4# 1-0

Sources and checking

Score source: Chess Database, version 1 by Ana Schaigorodsky (2016), licensed under CC BY 4.0. LibreChess selected the exact score identified by sha256:23e25d2ff9240586c52f78fae522a3aa21177fd2b0c65338b753563c820a8639 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Anderssen, Adolf"; Black="Dufresne, Jean"; Event="Berlin m2"; Date="1851.??.??"; Result="1-0". LibreChess parsed the main line with chess.js and stores normalised SAN. Source comments, side variations and termination detail were not retained.

LibreChess checks every SAN move with chess.js and compares the result and move sequence with a stored reference. The engine comparison was calculated offline from the fixed settings above; it is not a source for historical claims or a substitute for the authored notes. No termination is inferred where the imported score does not preserve one.

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